Method of restricting the flow of bodies of liquid

ABSTRACT

To form a water dam a succession of wall members of flexible sheet material of generally U-section, are spread across and immersed in the water, and contiguously arranged and constrained against deflection by pressure of the water they are to retain, so that the pressure distends the members into sealing engagement with each other. The wall members may be arranged in either horizontally or vertically extending rows. In addition to being used completely to dam water basins or courses, the wall members may be arranged to form cofferdams and lock gates, or to restrict the flow of any body of liquid.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Peter Riddett 2.609.666 9/1952 Mesnager....... 61/30 Southampton. England 2.669.845 2/1954 Freyssinct 61/30 [21] Appl. No. 4.349 3.067.712 12/1962 Doerpinghaus 61/5 UP [221 Filed .lan.20. 1970 3,084,516 4/1963 Coffman 61/29 [45] Patented Aug. 10.1971 3.173.269 3/1965 lmbertson 61/30 173] Assignee Hovercraft Development Limited 3.211.246 10/1965 Lewis H 180/127 London. England 3.420.330 1/1969 Bliss 180/128 [32] Priority Nov. 11, 1966 3.421.326 1/1969 Vidal 61/30 P 3;? Primary Examiner- Peter M. Caun co'nfinumon'impm or Human s". No. AnorneyCameron. Kerltam and Sutton 680.167, Nov. 2, 1967. now abandoned.

[54] METHOD OF RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF :ggzgg; m ABSTRACT: To form a water dam a succession of wall membets of flexible sheet material of generally U-section. are US. Cl. s read a 'os and in the water and cunfiguously arl l E029 3/10. ranged and constrained against deflection by pressure of the E0211 7/00 water they are to retain, so that the pressure distends the 1 1 Sara 61/5- members into sealing engagement with each other. The wall 30? members may be arranged in either horizontally or vertically extending rows. In addition to being used completely to dam [56] uNrm'ggxrgs i g a Ts water basins or courses, the wall members may be arranged to form cofl'erdams and lock gates. or to restrict the flow of any body of liquid.

Patent c l' Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,926

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 v 3,597,926

3 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ivlsruon or nEsrmcTlNc ru'E FLOWOF I .FIG. 2 is a vertical cross FIG. I,

LIQUID ironies or This application is a continuation-in-part of application,

SenNo. 680,167 filed Nov. 2', I967, now abandoned and relates to a method of restricting the flow of or damming a body ofliquid, e.g. water.

According to the present invention, a method of restricting the flow of a body of liquid comprises the steps of immersing [therein a structure comprising flexible wall means formed from a succession of independently deflectable flexiblewall members, each having a middle portion to form .part of a boundary surface, and a pair of side portions which extend away from the middle portion towards the body of liquid the flow of which is to be restricted, contiguously arranging the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members, and

.locating and securing at least the side portions of the wall members so as to constrain the wall members against deflection by the pressure exerted thereon by the said body of liquid, so that any tendency of the said body of liquid to flow from the one side to the other side'of the structure results in the liquid distending the wall members together so as to form a substantially liquidtight seal .therebetween. The invention will now he described by way of example with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one arrangement using two flexible I walls to form a temporary cofferdam section taken on the lines 11-1] of FIG. 3 is-a plan view of another arrangement wherein a single flexible wall is used to forma temporary cofferdam,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2.but illustrates a modification thereof,

-FIG. l is a diagrammatic end. view,.in section, of aship,

- and 1 FIGS. '1 1 and I2. are diagrammatic views similar to FIG. 10

and illustrate differing conditions of operationof the invention incorporated'the'rein.

Withreference to FIGS. I and 2, to form a temporary cofferdam across a river 2 and define a substantially dry space 3 open to the atmosphere, a spacedaapart pair ofiflexible walls I -are spread across and immersed in the river 2: The walls I- each comprise asuccession of independently deflectable flexible wall members 4 of one-piece form, each having amiddle 7 portion 5 which'faces away from-the space 3 andapairof side portions 6 whichextend outwardly from the middle portion 5 also away from the space 3, a side portion 6 of each wall member being contiguous with the adjacent'side portion-6 of a neighboring wallmember; The side portions 6 serve as constraining means which constrain the wall members 4 against deflection'towards the space 3 by the head pressure of the river water onthe other side of each wall I, whereby lateral distention of the wall members by this pressure or loading urges the contiguous side portions 6 of neighboring. wall-memhers 4 towards each other toprovide a water seal.

' The. wall rnernbers4- arebasicallyof the formdescribed in U48. Pat. No. 3,420,330. The wall members 4are disposed in a row which extends crosswise between the opposite'banks 7of the river andare supported'by a spaced pairotsupport-membets 8 intheform of rods which extend frombank to bankandare attached theretoby stakes-9 driven intothe banks. The

wallmembers 4 are demountably attached to the support members 8 by lacing (notshown) at spacedpointsalong the upperedges 10 of theirlside portions 6.

The flexible-wall structures-allow repair-work to take'place on a pipe Iliextending across the bed of the river Z-so as tob'e THis allows the inflation loads 14(FIG. 2 Only), Which act normal to the inner face of the middle portion 5'(and which are transferred to the support members 8 by the side portions 6), to act with a downward component of force so as to maintain the wall member in tension. Thus, thin,-light material (for example, 18 oz. per square yard neoprene-proofed nylon) can be used for the construction of the wall members 4.

To install each flexible wall structure I, the associated stakes 9 are positioned and the wall members 4 then lowered into the river 2 until the bottoms I3 of the wall members are in good contact with the river bed. The region between the wall structures 1 is now-pumped out but as pumping progresses the wall members 4 restrict the flow of water into the space so that water pressure builds up behind them so as to distend or inflate" the wall members 4 whereby the contiguous side portions 6 of neighboring wall members are urged towards each other to effect a water seal. Eventually the space 3 is sufficiently clear of water to allow repair of the pipe 11. The bot toms of the wall members 4, being flexible, conform to the riverbed so as to prevent leadage between the riverbed and the bottoms of the wall members.

Instead of getting rid of excess water leaking into the space 3 by means of the pump 15, the ends of a flexible hose can be pushed between pairs of wall members of the two flexible walls 1. A steady flow of water will then take place from behind the upstream wall 1 to behind the downstream wall I.

'With reference to FIG. 3, if access to'the pipe 11 is only required where the pipe emerges from the riverbank, only one flexible wall I is required, the wall members 4 thereof being disposed in a semicircular arrangement as shown. In this arrangement support members 8a of substantially semicircular form are provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wall'members 4 can, alternatively, be.disposed "upside-down" with their support members 8 attachedto the-bed 17 of the river. In accordance with the invention, the middle'portions 5 of the wall members 4 face away from the space 3, the head pressure of which is less than the he'adpressure of the water retained by the wall members. In this arrangement the pressurized inflation" fluid acting on the inner surface of the middle portion 5 has an upward component of fore.

Disposing the wall members 4 upside-down also allows them to be used,.when suitably modified, as a two-way lock gate in, for example, a canal. As shown in FIGS. Sand 6, a flexible wall '1' forms a barrier between tow levels of water, the

- highest level being on the left-hand side of the figure. The middle portions S of each'wall member 4 face away from the region of lowest pressure, i.e., the volume of water at the lowest level, and the interiors of the wall members 4 are closed off by panels 20 of flexible material'extending between the inclined edges of 'the side portions-6. The panels 20 are provided with port means in-the'form of apertures 21 which allow communication between theotherwise closed interiors of the wall members 4and the volume of water at the highest level so thatthe head pressure of the latter distends the wall members.

When a ship 25passes either'from left to right (as in the full lines) or in the opposite direction (as inthe dotted lines), on

contactwith=the-flexible wall I the bow of the ship parts a neighboring pair-of the wallmembers 4 to allow free passage of the ship. During passage of the ship through the flexible wall I the wall members 4thereof are held by inflation pressure in contact with the ships sides so as to maintain a water seal therewith. The ship's propellers may, of course, have to be shroudedor-otherwise prevented from damaging the wall members 4.

Without the flexible panels 20the ship 25 could pass from right-to leftwithout trouble but not in the oppositedirection as the bows of the ship would be unable to part the distended side portions of the wall members 4 and would instead enter the interior of one of the wall members.

As shown in FIG. 7, where the highest level of water (H.L.) is a substantial distance below the upper extremities of the wall members 4, i.e., the extremities which form the upper periphery of the space 3, to prevent collapse of the extremities by a buildup of water between the bow of the ship and the wall members whereby the extremities are liable to become entangled with the ship the extremities can be formed with cutaway portions 26. Thisopens the extremities to the ambient at mosphere and allows the water in front of the ships bow to spill over into the interiors of the wall members without effecting substantial collapse thereof.

With reference now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a lock gate is formed by a pair of walls 1, the wall members of which are of the form shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 but are arranged in stacks, one upon another so that the pressurized inflation fluid acting on the inner surfaces of the middle portions 5 has a sideways component of force. As shown in FIG. 8, the extremities 13 of the oppositely facing walls I normally contact each other to form a seal but on being parted by the bows of the ship 25 they will collapse inwardly. This stacked arrangement can also be used as a water-retaining dam instead of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 except that the flexible panels 20 will not be required.

FIGS. to 12 show the method of the invention used to form a wash-bulkhead in a marine tanker.

With reference to FIG. 10, a cargo space 30 of a marine tanker 31 contains a liquid cargo 32 with a free space 35 above. The tanker 31 floats in water 33.

The upper portion of the cargo space 30 is divided longitudinally by four flexible walls 1 demountably attached by supports (not shown) to the deck 34 of the tanker. Two walls I are disposed on the port side of the cargo space 30 and the other two are disposed on the starboard side thereof. The wall members 4 of the four walls 1 are disposed so that the side portions 6 of the outer walls extend towards each other from their middle portions 5 whereas the side portions 6 of the wall members of the two inner walls extendfrom their middle portions in opposite directions. When the tanker 31 is upright, as shown in FIG. 10, the middle portions 5 of the wall members are not subjected to any pressure or loading differential and the wall members extend downwardly under their own weight.

FIG. 11 shows the tanker 31 rolling to port and, under these conditions, the middle portions 5 of the port outer and starboard inner walls 1 limit the transverse or surging" movement of the liquid cargo 32 in the cargo space 30, caused by the rolling, and thus safeguards the stability of the tanker. The reduced amount of transverse movement which does take place causes collapse of the wall members of the port inner and starboard outer walls 1 out of the way as shown. Under these conditions, taking the starboard inner wall as an example, the space bounded by this wall is the port half of the free space 35 and the pressure on the other side of the wall is the head pressure of that portion of the liquid cargo 32 retained by the wall.

FIG 12 shows the tank 3] rolling to starboard and under these conditions it is the middle portions 5 of the port inner and starboard outer walls 1 which limit transverse movement of the liquid cargo 32 and the wall members of the port outer and starboard inner walls which are deflected out of the way.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of wall members as described in connection with FIGS. 10 to 12 could be incorporated in any container in which liquid is transported in order to reduce lateral (or longitudinal) movement thereof.

It will also be appreciated that the container in which such a fluid is carried need not comprise or be incorporated in a waterborne vessel or vehicle but it may also comprise or be incorporated in vessels and vehicles for operation in the air or over land, for example, aircraft fuel tanks or road tankers.

In a (nonillustrated) modification of any of the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the wall members 4 are attached to each other by their side portions so as to at least limit the degree of deflection relative to each other. This arrangement provides an improved seal in conditions where full relative movement between neighboring wall members is not necessary. Attachment of the wall members to each other may be by stitching or by the application of adhesive.

In a further (nonillustrated) modification of any of the arrangements shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8, and 9, the wall members 4 are not pressurized by the water they retain but are pressurized independently by a fluid pump unit provided with pressure and flow control.

lclaim 1. A method of restricting the flow ofa body of liquid comprising the steps of immersing therein a structure comprising flexible wall means formed from a succession of independently deflectable flexible wall members, each having a middle portion to form part of a boundary surface, and a pair of side portions which extend away from the middle portion towards the body ofliquid the flow of which is to be restricted, contiguously arranging the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members, and locating and securing at least the side portions of the wall members so as to constrain the wall members against deflection by the pressure exerted thereon by the said body of liquid, so that any tendency of the said body of liquid to flow from the one side to the other side of the structure results in the liquid distending the wall members and urging adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members together so as to form a substantially liquidtight seal 'therebetween.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the side portions of the wall members are arranged to act substantially normal to the said middle portions of the wall members so as to constrain the said members against deflection.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the steps of providing the wall members with flexible panels extending between the edges of the side portions remote from the associated middle portions so as to close off said wall members, and arranging for the interiors of the wall members to be pressurized to a pressure at least equal to that exerted by the liquid on the said one side.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein it is arranged to pressurize the interiors of said wall members by the said pressure exerted by the liquid.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the structure is disposed to that the pressure exerted thereon by the said body of liquid acts on the middle portion of each wall member with a downward component of force.

6. A method as claimed in claim I in which the structure is disposed so that the pressure exerted thereon by the said body of liquid acts on the middle portion of each wall member with an upward'component of force.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the structure is disposed so that the pressure exerted thereon by the said body of liquid acts on the middle portion of each wall member with a sideways component of force.

8. A method of forming a water dam comprising the steps of immersing in the water a succession of independently deflectable flexible wall members, of a height exceeding the depth of the body of water to be dammed, each member having a middle portion and a pair of side portions, downwardly inclining the middle portions of the wall members towards the said body of water, so as to form a boundary surface of the dam, arranging the side portions to extend away from the said middle portions of said wall members into the said body of water, contiguously arranging the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members, and locating and securing the side portions to serve as constraining means acting substantially normal to the middle portions of the wall members to prevent deflection thereof away from the body of water to be dammed, so that, in use, water distending the wall members urges the side portions of neighboring wall members together so as to form a substantially watertight seal between them, and urges the middle portions of the wall members into sealing contact with the bed ofthe said body of water.

9. A method of forming a water dam comprising the steps of immersing in the water a succession of independently deflectable flexible wall members, of a height exceeding the depth of the body of water to be dammed, each having a middle portion and a pair of side portions, upwardly inclining the middle portions of the wall members from the bed of and towards the said body of water, so as to form a boundary surface of the dam, arranging the side portions to extend away from the said middle portions of said wall members towards the bed of the said body of water, contiguously arranging the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members and locating and securing the side portions to serve as constraining means connecting the middle portions to the said bed and acting substantially normal to the middle portions of the wall members to prevent deflection thereof by pressure exerted thereon by the body of water to be dammed, so that in use the pressure of the water distends the wall members to urge the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members together so as to form a substantially watertight seal between them.

10. A method of forming a water dam as claimed in claim 9 including the steps of providing each wall member with a flexible panel extending between the free edges of the side portions so as to define a downwardly open bag, and arranging for water to enter the bags in order to distend the same and effect seals between them.

11. A method of forming a dam for a watercourse comprising the steps of immersing therein two flexible wall means, one extending away from each bank of the watercourse towards the other, each wall means being formed from a succession of superimposed independently deflectable flexible wall members, each member having a middle portion and a pair of side portions, positioning the wall members so that each middle portion forms part of a boundary surface facing upstream, arranging the side portions to extend away from the middle portions in an upstream direction towards the adjacent bank of the watercourse, and securing the side portions to the respective banks of the watercourse so that they serve as constraining means to prevent deflection of the wall members downstream, and pressure exerted by the water on the wall members distends the same to urge adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members together so as to form a substantially watertight seal between them and urges the middle portions of the wall members of the two wall means together, so as to form a substantially watertight seal between the two wall means.

12. A method of damming a watercourse comprising the steps of spreading across the same a succession of contiguously arranged, independently deflectable flexible wall members, of a height exceeding the depth of the water in the watercourse, each member having a middle portion which forms a dam surface facing upstream and a pair of side portions extending away from the said middle portion in an upstream direction, and securing the wall members in position across the watercourse so as to constrain them against deflection in a downstream direction, whereby the pressure exerted by the water in the watercourse on the wall members distends the same to urge the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members into sealing contact with each other, and the middle portions of the wall members into sealing contact with the bed of the watercourse. 

1. A method of restricting the flow of a body of liquid comprising the steps of immersing therein a structure comprising flexible wall means formed from a succession of independently deflectable flexible wall members, each having a middle portion to form part of a boundary surface, and a pair of side portions which extend away from the middle portion towards the body of liquid the flow of which is to be restricted, contiguously arranging the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members, and locating and securing at least the side portions of the wall members so as to constrain the wall members against deflection by the pressure exerted thereon by the said body of liquid, so that any tendency of the said body of liquid to flow from the one side to the other side of the structure results in the liquid distending the wall members and urging adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members together so as to form a substantially liquidtight seal therebetween.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the side portions of the wall members are arranged to act substantially normal to the said middle portions of the wall members so as to constrain the said members against deflection.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the steps of providing the wall members with flexible panels extending between the edges of the side portIons remote from the associated middle portions so as to close off said wall members, and arranging for the interiors of the wall members to be pressurized to a pressure at least equal to that exerted by the liquid on the said one side.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein it is arranged to pressurize the interiors of said wall members by the said pressure exerted by the liquid.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the structure is disposed so that the pressure exerted thereon by the said body of liquid acts on the middle portion of each wall member with a downward component of force.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the structure is disposed so that the pressure exerted thereon by the said body of liquid acts on the middle portion of each wall member with an upward component of force.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the structure is disposed so that the pressure exerted thereon by the said body of liquid acts on the middle portion of each wall member with a sideways component of force.
 8. A method of forming a water dam comprising the steps of immersing in the water a succession of independently deflectable flexible wall members, of a height exceeding the depth of the body of water to be dammed, each member having a middle portion and a pair of side portions, downwardly inclining the middle portions of the wall members towards the said body of water, so as to form a boundary surface of the dam, arranging the side portions to extend away from the said middle portions of said wall members into the said body of water, contiguously arranging the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members, and locating and securing the side portions to serve as constraining means acting substantially normal to the middle portions of the wall members to prevent deflection thereof away from the body of water to be dammed, so that, in use, water distending the wall members urges the side portions of neighboring wall members together so as to form a substantially watertight seal between them, and urges the middle portions of the wall members into sealing contact with the bed of the said body of water.
 9. A method of forming a water dam comprising the steps of immersing in the water a succession of independently deflectable flexible wall members, of a height exceeding the depth of the body of water to be dammed, each having a middle portion and a pair of side portions, upwardly inclining the middle portions of the wall members from the bed of and towards the said body of water, so as to form a boundary surface of the dam, arranging the side portions to extend away from the said middle portions of said wall members towards the bed of the said body of water, contiguously arranging the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members and locating and securing the side portions to serve as constraining means connecting the middle portions to the said bed and acting substantially normal to the middle portions of the wall members to prevent deflection thereof by pressure exerted thereon by the body of water to be dammed, so that in use the pressure of the water distends the wall members to urge the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members together so as to form a substantially watertight seal between them.
 10. A method of forming a water dam as claimed in claim 9 including the steps of providing each wall member with a flexible panel extending between the free edges of the side portions so as to define a downwardly open bag, and arranging for water to enter the bags in order to distend the same and effect seals between them.
 11. A method of forming a dam for a watercourse comprising the steps of immersing therein two flexible wall means, one extending away from each bank of the watercourse towards the other, each wall means being formed from a succession of superimposed independently deflectable flexible wall members, each member having a middle portion and a pair of side portions, positioning the wall members so that each middle portion Forms part of a boundary surface facing upstream, arranging the side portions to extend away from the middle portions in an upstream direction towards the adjacent bank of the watercourse, and securing the side portions to the respective banks of the watercourse so that they serve as constraining means to prevent deflection of the wall members downstream, and pressure exerted by the water on the wall members distends the same to urge adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members together so as to form a substantially watertight seal between them and urges the middle portions of the wall members of the two wall means together, so as to form a substantially watertight seal between the two wall means.
 12. A method of damming a watercourse comprising the steps of spreading across the same a succession of contiguously arranged, independently deflectable flexible wall members, of a height exceeding the depth of the water in the watercourse, each member having a middle portion which forms a dam surface facing upstream and a pair of side portions extending away from the said middle portion in an upstream direction, and securing the wall members in position across the watercourse so as to constrain them against deflection in a downstream direction, whereby the pressure exerted by the water in the watercourse on the wall members distends the same to urge the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members into sealing contact with each other, and the middle portions of the wall members into sealing contact with the bed of the watercourse. 